QuestionQUESTION: Hello, I have a 96 ws6. The display in the original radio went out, along with the steering wheel control lights. I just replaced the radio with another oem radio, that was tested, and everything works except the display again. We checked the dimmer switch, and fuses. The steering wheel controls work, but have no lights. Don't know if they are connected somehow. The display can be seen with an external light, it's just not illuminated.
Thank you
Lou
ANSWER: Hi Lou.
That is a super common issue with that vintage radio it's an internal issue with the radio it's self. you got a radio with one of the 2 problems your original radio had. take it back and try for another and cross your fingers that one works. there is another option you can take the radio to a dealer and they can send it out to a place called specmo or united radio and have it fixed right. those are the 2 places we send radio insterment clusters and other electronic units out to get repaired. you can try to google them and cut out the middle man and see if you can send your radio right to them to get it fixed correctly. We at the dealer do not fix any of these we either send the original unit out for a repair or just order and exchange unit. good luck :-)
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QUESTION: Thank you for your response. I was told that it coud be a BCM issue, due to the face that both radios, and the steering wheel control lights are out also. Could that be an issue?
ANSWER: you said in the original post that the radio controls worked with the new radio. now they don't or the back lighting doesn't work? do the back lights work on the cluster HVAC control head all of the steering wheel lights?? if so and just the radio is in op it's the radio. if during the day you can't read the display it's not a back light issue it's a radio issue.
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QUESTION: Hey thanks again. The controls do work, but the lights are out on all of the steering wheel radio controls. I can see the display faintly with a light if I shine it on the display. This was the same with both of the radios. I spoke with the company, who stated that they check the radios prior to shipping, but he is sending another to check it.
Answerare both sides of the controls on the steering wheel out? beaning the back light? did they both go out at the same time? the back lighting is separate from the controls them self working. again if the back lighting works on the HVAC head IPC etc. then the issue is with the buttons them self OR the clock spring in the steering column that provides a constant ckt though the column to the buttons... I'm sure yu will find that the display part of the radio will work on another radio if they send you a replacement. that series radio was noted for display issues and exactly as you sated if you shine a light on it you can read the display. it's an internal radio issue...
